Sick of Shadows - M. C. Beaton [31]
“That will not be necessary. I have engaged her as a seamstress. She is here.”
“How did that come about?”
“She was so poor and so hungry. Besides, she will be of use.”
Harry thought of his rescue of Phil. How like he and Rose really were. He wanted suddenly to tell her that they should start again, that perhaps they could deal very well together, but Rose had risen to ring the bell and ask a footman to fetch Miss Friendly.
She came in and sat down timidly on the very edge of a chair. “I am Captain Cathcart,” Harry began, “and I believe you have supplied Lady Rose with some very interesting information about the blacksmith’s son.”
“Only that he and Dolly were very much in love. I believe they used to meet in secret. You can’t keep much quiet in a village. The rector complained to the blacksmith and the blacksmith gave Roger a terrible beating. That was just before they took Dolly to London.”
“Miss Tremaine gave Lady Rose a note saying she was running away. It is possible that she knew where this Roger was and was going to join him. On the other hand, he could have killed her. What sort of fellow was he?”
“Very strong. Curly black hair and quite tall. He told someone in the village that he was running off to London.”
“Would it be possible to find a photograph of him?”
“I shouldn’t think so, sir. I cannot remember anyone in the village having a camera.”
“I’ll get Kerridge on to this,” said Harry. “Thank you, Miss Friendly.”
She curtsied and left.
“You should not have risked going to Apton Magna without telling me,” said Harry.
“How could I tell you? You are never here.”
“I do have a telephone, as you well know.”
“I do not like not having the freedom of a man,” said Rose. “You are able to visit Scotland Yard any time you like and find out the latest developments.”
“I could wish you were more conventional for your own safety.”
“One could hardly call you conventional.”
“True, but it is different for a man.”
“I sometimes feel like cancelling our engagement and marrying Sir Peter.”
He glared at her in outrage. “That would be a marriage in name only.”
“As this is an engagement in name only,” retorted Rose.
The much-goaded Harry seized her in his arms and kissed her hard on the lips. When she reeled back after he had released her, he said, “I am sorry. I should not have done that. But you are infuriating!”
And with that, he turned and left the room.
FIVE
The accepted man is in duty bound to spend most of his leisure with his intended bride. He must not go off for a sojourn abroad while she is spending some weeks by the sea in England, unless she has expressed a wish to that effect. It would be a considerable “snub” to her to do so. . . . This almost always means that the man has been entrapped into a proposal, and would willingly retreat if he possibly could.
—MRS. HUMPHREY
Rose almost telephoned Harry to cancel the outing. That kiss had left her feeling weak and shaken. Somehow, she could not even bring herself to tell Daisy about it. Also, Daisy was volubly looking forward so much to the outing.
Rose knew the rigid rules of society were relaxing. A gentleman was no longer expected to ask the parents’ permission first if he wanted to pay his addresses to their daughter. Only sticklers for the old ways such as her own parents and no doubt the mercenary Tremaines expected the old ways to be followed.
She looked down at the small engagement ring on her finger. She had bought it herself out of her pin money, Harry having seemingly forgotten that he was expected to supply one.
The weather held fine for the day of the outing. Rose was torn between “armouring” herself in a new white lace gown with a high-boned collar and settling for comfort. Comfort won. Her maid dressed her in a divided tweed skirt and a striped blouse. Although the day showed every sign of becoming hot, Rose put on a tweed jacket and wore a straw boater on her glossy hair.
Daisy had been up very early, trying on outfit after outfit to impress Becket. When she finally appeared to join Rose in a purple silk gown embellished with